Faf Du Plessis Brings First Ton Of SA20
In their Betway SA20 match on Tuesday at the Wanderers, Joburg Super Kings skipper Faf du Plessis scored an incredible unbeaten century to lead his team to an eight-wicket triumph against Durban’s Super Giants.
The Super Kings were chasing a challenging 179 to win, but they had an easy time of it thanks to a brilliant opening partnership of 157 runs between captain Du Plessis and Reeza Hendricks.
Throughout the chase, the game never looked to getting away from Joburg Super Kings. In a last few matches, Super Kings paid the price of losing early wickets so Faf Du Plessis made sure that instead of focusing too much on run rate, the team should retain wickets.
On the other end, his opening Partner Hendricks had trouble getting going. But in the 15th and 16th over, he found his rhythm and played a number of explosive shots before being caught off the bowling of Reece Topley (1-19) for 45 from 46 balls (hitting four fours and two sixes).
Faf Du Plessis brought up his third ton of last 12 months off just 54 balls as he scored the first Betway SA20 century in front of a cheering Wanderers crowd.
Du Plessis had an outstanding effort, scoring an unbeaten 113 off 58 balls (hitting eight fours and eight sixes), playing some outrageous shots as he always does.
Donovan Ferreira was next dismissed by Wiaan Mulder (1-8) as he reached for a wide ball and pushed it behind for four runs.
Du Plessis’ maximum helped his team cross the finish line on 182-2 with five balls remaining.
Heinrich Klaasen earlier contributed a tough half-century as Durban’s Super Giants team, which was given the opportunity to bat first, recorded 178-6. A late hitting from Jason Holder allowed the team to put a good total but the pitch was great for batting.
Super Kings Kept Bowled Well On A Good Batting Wicket
Gerald Coetzee’s early wicket of Quinton de Kock, who threw it to backward square leg for six, gave the Joburg Super Kings an early advantage.
Leus du Plooy made a diving catch when Maheesh Theekshana persuaded Kyle Mayers to edge to short third man, ending the opener’s innings for 28 off 15 balls.
Two deliveries later, Theekshana dismissed Wiaan Mulder for a duck, but the situation was stabilised by a 75-run partnership between Klaasen and Matthew Breetzke.
Breetzke attempted to flick the ball but failed and found the fielder at backward square for 28 from 24 balls when Coetzee spotted the back of him.
Theekshana (3-30), who got his third as Keemo Paul was caught for eight off seven balls, gave the home team additional encouragement.
Coetzee (3-21) grabbed his third as Klaasen, who had made a gallant 65 off 48 balls, was caught after swinging hard and slogging the ball to long-on (hitting seven fours).